I had two responses before I went to Paris. After I arrived, I pounded the pavement. I had two interviews and two offers within a week. I never actually got around to the schools that had contacted me.

If you are french speaking and an EU citizen, I agree with shaman - the easiest way is to just show up and pound the pavement.

you also didn't mention what your background is - i assume you're a native speaker, but do you have teaching experience, a TEFL or CELTA certificate, business experience, etc?

If you don't have any experience or qualifications, i suggest the French assistant program run by the Ministère de l'Education Nationale: they hire americans, canadians, aussies, and new zealanders to work 12 hours a week in French public schools. I don't know what nationality you are (probably Canadian since you speak French and have EU citizenship?) but the French embassy that serves your country should have more details on their website. Info for Americans can be found at www.frenchculture.org Just look under "education." The assistant program, however, is from October - April, May, or June, depending on your assignment. I don't know if you are in hurry to leave but they are accepting applications NOW for this program.

The assistants have a website/forum set up to exchange information, etc. You may want to check it out, as there are people living in Strasbourg who may be able to help you locate specific schools. Website is www.assistantsinfrance.com

Also what are your salary expectations? Berlitz and Wall Street have branches in all of the major cities - including Strasbourg, but whether you really want to work for peanuts is up to you. Private language schools are better, but a lot of them aren't up on the web or have unsophisticated websites - its no wonder you can't find them. You won't be able to work in a state school unless you have formal French qualifications and diplomas.

This is the French State Employment agency and lists all registered vacancies.

But you may need to register as unemployed.

An EU citizen can go through their own country's unemployment agency and have grants and travel costs paid to go and work in other countries. Just ask to see the European Advisor.
This will also allow you to claim unemployment benefit from your home country for a period of up to 3 months.

I am 24-year-old American woman who has a BA in French and linguistics, a certificate from my university for TESOL and a CELTA from London. I have been teaching English for four years in the US and Taiwan. I have taught EFL to Taiwanese preschoolers (ages 3-6) at an English-immersion school, Grades 1 and 4 English language arts to advanced speakers, and ESL to teenagers and adults, as well as private TOEFL prep to university students both in the US and Taiwan. I have lots of experience and am fluent in French (although it takes me a day or two to get back into it when I visit France because I usually speak English and Mandarin on a day-to-day basis). I lived and studied in France five years ago in Tours and have been told that I have a tourangelle accent when I speak (by Parisians no less!). In addition to English (my native tongue) and French, I speak Mandarin (intermediate), German (basic), and Spanish (basic).

At any rate, I have qualifications for and experience in teaching English to non-native speakers, and while I prefer to teach children, especially elementary school-aged ones, adults are fine as long as it's not business English (which I know is the big market in France). I currently live in Taiwan, but I want to move to France at the end of the coming school year (the 2004-2005 school year, my 5th year of teaching English). What are my chances of getting a job in France despite my biggest handicap (not having an EU passport)? What can I do to boost my chances of landing a job teaching children?

The work permit is not impossible, but it might be the next thing to it. I taught with Americans who didn't have dual citizenship, but I think there were special circumstances (ie. married to a French national). Be prepared to do a lot of hoop-jumping. Even those who hold EU citizenship have difficulties dealing with the bright and sunny civil servants at the prefecture.

Teaching in the state system you need the CAPES. From what I understand, external quals are not recognized. The test is done entirely in French.

shaman - i like the new kitty. you still thinking about coming back to france in the near future?

imaniou - see my other post in the france forum under "recruiting time of year" for more info on working in france if you're american. also note that if you are a student at an official university (and not a language school), you are also eligible to work up to 19.5 hours per week on a student visa. i've heard quite a few foreigners actually enroll in a university program (around 300 euros a year) just to get the right to work in france. once they're in and they have their official papers to work, they never actually go back to classes.

But there is a programme for British assistants. It's run by the British Council (see their website). Many but not all of those who go on it do it as their year abroad but they also take graduates. I spent a year in La Rochelle on this programme.
Hope that helps
Julie